WHEN Southampton welcomed the new millennium in last year it was in a blaze of glory, colour - and controversy.

The £135,000 the city council splashed out on a fireworks fantasia on the waterfront left many condemning it as an extravagant waste of taxpayer's cash.

To mark the start of 2001, civic chiefs - undeterred by the criticism and the fact it faces being in the red by as much as £22 million from 2001-2002 - forked out thousands more on its Gateway to the World event. But just 200 people turned out for it to welcome in 2001 as the rain put pay to a hi-tech celebration of the city's heritage.

The day-long downpour led to the 11pm torchlight procession from the Bargate being cancelled and the planned sound and light show became a "soggy" lumiere.

Much of the technical wizardry for the event with lasers and lights had to be called off as the wet weather caused electrics to blow.

Council leader June Bridle defended the decision to go ahead with the show, for which civic chiefs had forked out £54,000.

"I think it's like anything really when you make plans like these as you can't predict the weather," she said.

"But it wasn't just an evening celebration - things were going on all day.

"It was a shame that this once- in-a-year event was affected by the weather.

"It's a damned if you do and damned if don't situation - if we hadn't done anything people would have been upset and if we did do something we would be criticised.

"If we had cancelled it then people would have been disappointed."

A city council spokesman said they had already committed the money to the event, which was given an extra £60,000 by the Millennium Commission.

He added that the parade costumes and video production would be used at other events.

Although disappointed, most of the people who turned up for the procession from the Bargate were philosophical about the weather - and Steph Hayward, 40, from Westridge Road, Portswood, was full of praise for the day's entertainment.

"I went on the ghost walk in the afternoon and it was really enjoyable despite the rain.

"The actors who were leading it were very courageous - especially as they were standing on top of the city walls getting absolutely soaked," she said.

Not surprisingly, most of the partygoers were celebrating the start of 2001 in the city's pubs and clubs.

At the Bridge Inn in Priory Road, St Denys, regulars enjoyed a touch of party spirit as they danced their way into the new year, while at the Frog and Frigate pub near Ocean Village, revellers did not let the downpour dampen their enjoyment - and they still turned up in fancy dress.

"About 75 per cent of people made the effort to dress up - they all just wanted to have a really good time," he said.

Down the road at 42 THS in Bernard Street, owner Lee Whitby-Bonnici enjoyed her first New Year in the city.

"It's been really special - my regulars who have been coming to my place since I opened have come along tonight to help me celebrate," said Lee.

At the WalkAbout Inn - a popular student haunt - they were turning away partygoers well before midnight as they reached their capacity.

"The weather didn't put people off at all - they came here to enjoy themselves.

"We will be opening until midnight Monday to Saturday from now on and we just hope we can be as busy as we are tonight," said manager Bryan Curran.

And at Bar Med, manager Phil Way was happy to welcome in 2001 with his regular customers.

"We have had a great atmosphere here tonight," he said.